THE BASICS:

-Score Game 1: Assumption 2, Southern New Hampshire 4

-Records: Assumption (11-20, 8-10 NE-10), Southern New Hampshire (19-9, 11-3 NE-10)

-Location: Worcester, Mass. (Marois Field)

-The Lead: In a close battle at home on Thursday afternoon, the Assumption College softball team fell by a narrow score of 4-2 to the visiting Southern New Hampshire Penmen. The Hounds are now ranked fourth in the NE-10 Northeast Division.

HOW IT HAPPENED 

-The Penmen took the lead in the top of the first, scoring two runs on five hits. 

-Assumption reduced the deficit to one in the bottom of the second when senior Christina Caira (Newton, Mass. / Newton North) singled through the right side to score sophomore Stephanie Menard (Cranston, R.I. / Cranston HS West) from second. Menard had singled and scored from second when Caira collided with the SNHU first baseman on the play.

-The Hounds retired three-straight batters in the top of the third including two spectacular catches in the outfield by junior Ashley Clark (Pawtucket, R.I. / William E. Tolman).

-The Hounds tied it up in the bottom of the fourth, 2-2. Junior Ashley Abad (Bedford, N.H. / Bedford) led off with a single through the left side and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from senior Kayli Moniz (Fairhaven, Mass. / Fairhaven). She scored on a hard hit single through the right side by Menard.

-In the bottom of the fifth, SNHU's Katie Caruso tripled to left center with just one out and scored on the following play, a single up the middle from Erin Garcynski. The Hounds tallied the next two outs to work out of the inning, 3-2 Penmen.

-In the top of the sixth, the Penmen extended their lead to two with a solo home run from Katie Horiuchi for the 4-2 final.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

-SNHU outhit the Hounds 13-9 on the day. Assumption was led by Abad, Menard, Caira and freshman Julia Mazzeo (Milford, N.H. / Milford) who each posted two hits. Menard and Caira also registered an RBI.

-The Hounds left five runners on base compared to nine for SNHU.

-Sophomore Kendal Roy (Grafton, Mass. / Grafton) pitched all seven innings for the Hounds, she posted two strikeouts while allowing 13 hits and four earned runs. Roy's record is now 9-6 overall.

-Sarah Lavallee improves to 11-3 with the win pitching all seven innings, allowing nine hits and two runs while striking out six.

UP NEXT:

-The Hounds are scheduled to return to action on Saturday for a three-game series at Saint Michael's in Vermont. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 12 p.m. before playing a single game on Sunday at noon.

STAY CONNECTED:

-For the latest on Assumption College Athletics, follow the Hounds via social media on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. For more information, contact the Office of Athletic Communications at 508-767-7240. 

-Fans can also sign up for email updates and text message alerts for the women's softball team and all of the other 23 Assumption varsity sports by clicking here.